To the Editor:

There’s been a lot of activity at the flagpole — our town centerpiece — in the past week. Saturday morning, volunteers with the Newtown Lions Club and Newtown Hook & Ladder were up early taking down the large summer flag and replacing it with a smaller winter flag. On behalf of the Borough of Newtown, which maintains the flagpole, my thanks to members of both organizations for their help. And thank you to Newtown Hardware for generously donating the winter flag.

On Monday morning, Ken Burns Electric set up a boom truck and spent several hours swapping out the old stadium spotlights that illuminate the flag at night with new energy efficient and longer-lasting LED fixtures. This is the first step in a project this fall to beautify the flagpole. Next will come a top-to-bottom paint job.

Several people have come together to organize a community fundraiser to pay for the work (you can find more details elsewhere in this week’s Newtown Bee) and to establish a small fund for ongoing maintenance. The Lions Club kicked things off with a much-appreciated $500 donation. The Borough and town will also contribute, and the fundraising committee hopes many local businesses and residents will want to get involved.

The flagpole is a town treasure and a point of pride for all Newtowners. Please consider making a donation for its upkeep. Checks may be mailed to the Borough of Newtown Flagpole Fund, PO Box 164, Newtown CT 06470.

Sincerely,

Chris Gardner

Borough of Newtown Board of Burgesses

Keeper of the Flagpole

Main Street, Newtown October 21, 2019